Machine for uniting knit fabrics.



w. c, WRIGHT. l MACHINE FOR UNITING KNIT FABRICSt APPVLIUATION FILED APR. 16, 1912.

1,057,106.I A Patented Mar.25,1913,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. CQWR'IGHT. MACHINE FOB. UNITING KNIT FABRICS. APLIUATION FILED Amma. 1912. 1 ,057, 1 06 Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

` 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

llIlllllM W. C. WRIGHT.

MACHINE FOR UNITING KNIT FABRICS.

ABPLIUATION FILED APB.. 16, '191;2. 1,057,106 Patented 15131.25, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.`

WILLIAM CARPENTER WRIGHT, F PADUCAH, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR T0 FINIS EWIING LACK, OF PADUCAH, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE FOR UN'ITING KI'IL FABRICS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

Application tiled April 16, 1912. Serial No'. 691,179.

a citizen of the United States, residing at .Paducah, in the county of McCracken and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Unit-ing Knit Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for uniting knit fabrics, the machine being adapted to unite or connect the meeting edges of two pieces or portions of knit fabric by joining the loops of the adjacent edges thereof by means of an elastic seam or chain of stitches as in the production of hosiery, underwear and the like.

The present embodiment of the invention is particularly designed for closing the usual openingl in the toe portion of the knitted stocking, and is designed to form an elastic chain of stitches for joining tlie adjacent loops of the two portions of the fabric to be united, said elastic chain or seambeing formed transversely in the toe portion or the stocking and being adapted to coperate with the loops of the stocking fabric to provide transverse elasticity in this portion of the stocking. i

The present improvements are particularly designed and adapted for use in connection with machines of this class in which a continuous and uniform revolving movement or motion is imparted t-o the ring of impaling-pins by mechanism of the general character disclosed inthe application of Edwin O. Davis, tiled April 22, 1909, Serial No. 491,511, the present improvements relating particularly to n'iechanism for imparting a combined recipuocatory and lateral movement `to the curved thread needle as the latter passes through the loops ot fabric and above the imparting-pins, said lateral movementof the curved thread needle corresponding to the movement of the `subjacent impaling-pins.

In order to provide the necessary or required elasticity in the uniting seam or chain of stitches, a stitch finger is mounted above and extends in the direction of the travel of the ring of impaling-pins in cooperative relation with the thread needle and thread carrying l'oopcr in the stitch forming operation, said stitch finger being adapted to be included in a chain of uniformly formed stitches, thus ln'oviding` the necessary or desired elasticity in thelatter as withdrawn or shed ott by the progressive movements of the united loops upon the subjacent impaling-pins, the present improvements relating partlcularly to improved mechanism for operating the thread needle and thread carrying looper, the mechanism for operating the latter being connected to and operated directly from the thread needle arm and being preferably mounted on the dial support opposite the feed side of the sewing mechanism thus aifording free or unobstructive access vto the latter as in threading the needle and looper, said looper operating mechanism being adapted to work at right angles to the reciprocatory movements of the thread needle.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved and simplified mechanism for operating the thread needle arm as well as moving the thread needle arm and thread needle laterally to correspond with the movement ofthe subjacent impaling-pin while the curved thread needle is in the loops.

A still further object is to provide an improved feed roll immediately beneath the paths of travel of the reciprocatory thread needle and looper and the cooperating stitch finger whereby the loops of fabric to be united are held and maintained in vproper relative position during the sewing operation.

With the above mentioned and other ends in view the invent-ion consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter described, illustra ted in one of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in theI appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l, is atop plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3, an enlarged side elevation of the `sewing mechanism from the feed side thereof, the subjacent dial portion and feed' roll mounting being shown in section for the purpose of clearer illustration 'of the Aparts of the latter. Fig. 4, a top plan view A,of theA same, the overhanging dial supporting armv and dial actuating 'driving shaft being moved. Fig. 5, an enlarged side' elevation of the connecting arm or link between the thread needle arm and the looper carrying arm. liig. G, a fragu'ientary detailed View tinuously rotating ring.

A stitchA carrying guide member or stitch finger 22, is pivotally mounted 1n a supporting bracket 23, at one side of the ring of impaling-pins, the free end of said stitch finger being provided with a slightly depressed pointed or tapered tongue portion 22a, said tapered tongue portion 22, being adapted to ride upon a plurality of the subjacent pins when t-he latter are empty and to ride or travel upon a plurality of the adjacent loops ot the fabric to be united asy the latter are carried under the tongue porl tion oft' the stitch finger by the impalingpins. The depressed tongue portion 22, of the stitch finger is held down bythe action of a spring 24, extending fromjth'e supporting bracket 23, the depressed tongue portion 22, of the stitch tinger terminating in an olfset portion 22", the curved thread needle 11, being adapted to pass at the rear of and in close proximity to the ott'set portion 22"4 during its reciprocatory movements through the loopsr of fabric to be united and. over and above the subjacent impaling-pins carrying the loops to be united by the stitch forming operation.

As a means for supporting and giving the thread carrying looper 25, the necessary movements in the loop and stitch forming operation, a looper carrying arm 26, is provided, said looper carrying arm' 26, being' slidably mounted upon a supporting cam lever 27, carried in bearing lugs 28, of a supporting bracket 28, carried upon a supporting bar 29, the Vlatter being carried above the path of travel of the"subjacent .impaling-pins and opposite the feed side of the sewing mechanism through the medium of an overhanging supporting e arm or bracket 30, secured to the dial plate 4.

r1`he rear of the looper carrying arm 26, is

slidably connected to the supporting lever 27, by means of a slot 26a, taking over a 4guide block 31, secured to the supporting lever 27, by means ot a screw 32, said guide block 31, containing a coiled spring 33 (see Fig. 10)l operating against a plunger member 34, which latter engages within the rear portion of the slot 26, to reciprocate the looper carrying arm 26, longitudinally as acted upon by the cam and other actuating mechanism hereinafter described.

As aimeans for actuating the looper 25,

and looper carrying arm 26, by and in unison with the needle arm 12, the latter is con nected to the free end of the loopcr carrying arm 26, by means of a connecting link means of a slotted head 35a, operating on a,

bearing bolt or pin 37, and as a means tor insuring the proper actuation of said slotted head with respect to the needle arm 12,

vwhen the latter is at or near its rearward or most retracted position as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, the' looper carrying arm 26, may be. provided with a wiper spring 38, adapted to engage with the connecting link member 35, at a proper time during the reciprocatory movements of the parts.

As a means for giving the looper carry- 1 ing arm 26, t-he proper compound or combined longitudinal and undulatory movements whereby the looperv25, is given :the proper movement with respect'to the reciprocatory thread needle and over and about the offset portion 22h, of the stitch nger 22, in the stitch forming operation, a cam head or bracket 39, is connected to the supporting bar 29, said bracket 39, being provided with a cam ,face 39a, adapted to bear against the bearing block 36, for moving the loo er carrying arm 26, longitudinally, an as a means for giving thev free end of the looper arm 26, an oscillating or undulatory move ment, said cam head or bracket 39, is provided with -a guide slot 39", adapted to receive and contain a guide pin or member 40 extending from the bearing block 36. As a further means of holding and guiding the partsiin proper position, the looper carrying guide pin or member 41, extending into and adapted to travel Within a curved guide slot 27a, at the endof the support-ing lever 27. As a further means of assisting the work guide member 42, in directing and holding the work or loops of fabric to be united in proper position upon the impaling-pins during the sewing operation, a horizontally mounted feed roll or disk 43, is provided, said' disk or roll 43, being adapted to bear against and travel upon the outerperiphery of the ring 5, immediately beneath the impaling-pinsl and the paths of travel of the reciprocatory thread needle and looper (see F ig. 3,) and being movably and resihently held in position by means of a movable -bearing 44, operating against the resistance of a spring 45, said spring 45, being mounted in a guide opening 46, in the bracketpor tion, the spring being removably retained by means 'of a threaded plug 47.

vBy reason ot the above construction it will be seen that the looper hook is operated by simple mechanism directly trom the needle arm and that the needle and looper move in paths on opposite sides respectively of the offset 'or shoulder portion 22h, of the stitch lin er, the initial stitch beingformed over actuating mechanism; of a iooper carrying arm, means for connecting the latter to and reciprocating the same from said needle arm a supporting lever, a support for said supporting lever, and cam and slo-u members for coperating With said looper carrying arm as the latter is reciprocated by said needle arm. y

2. In a lmachine for ,uniting knit fabrics, the combination With a ring of impalingpins, means for continuously and uniformly revolving the same, an overhanging supporting arm for said ring of'impaling-pins provided With a bearing stem, a needle arm mounted on said bearing stem, means including a pitman arm for reciprocating said needle arm, and a movable arm carried by said pitman arm and provided with a cam 'head adapted to move said needle arm laterally on said4 bearing stem during its reciprocatory movements.

3.v In a machine for uniting knit fabrics,

ring of impaling-pins, a drivin-g shaft, means for actuating said ring of impalingpins from said driving shaft, a reciprocatory needle arm operatively connected to said driving shaft, a looper carrying arm, a connecting link member connected to said needle arm and said looper carrying arm, a support for said looper carrying' arm, and cam mechanism for giving said looper earrying arm a combined reciprocatory and undulatory movement.

4. In a machine for uniting knit fabrics, a. supporting bar provided with bracket members, a pivotally mounted supporting lever carried by one of said bracket members and provided at its free end With a curved slot, a looper carrying arm slidably mounted on said supporting lever 'and provided with a guide pin extending into said slot, a looper hook carried on the free end of said looper carrying arm, a reeiijirocatorf.' needle arm, and a connecting link member extending between said needle arm and the free end of said looper carrying arm.

5. In a machine for uniting knit fabrics, a continuously revolvingring of impalingpins, a driving shaft, a laterally movable reciproeatory needle arm carrying a. curved thread needle, a connecting arm connected/to said needle arm and said driving shaft, and a Wiper armv connected to said connecting arm and provided with a slotted cam head adapted to move said needle arm and curved thread needle laterally during;` its reciprocatory movements in the loops to correspond with the movements of the latter as carried by the subjaeentimpaling-pins.

G. In a machine for uniting knit fabrics, a driving lshaft, a ring' of impaling-pins, means for continuously revolving the latter from said driving shaft, a supporting arm for said ring of impaling-pins, a bearing `stem carried by said arm, a needle arm carried by said bearing stem and movable lat erally thereon, a laterally movable pitman or connecting arm connecting` said needle arm to said driving shaft, and a Wiper arm having a slotted cam head taking over said bearing stem and adapted to move said needle arm laterally thereon duringits reciprocatory movements.

7. In a machine for uniting` knit fabrics,

the combination with a ring of impalingpins, means for continuously revolving the latter, a driving shaft, a needle arm provided with a curved thread needle, means for reeipi'ioeating said needle arm from said driving shaft, means for moving said needle arm laterally during its reciprocatory movements whereby said `thread needle is carried laterally while in the loops to correspond with the movement of the subjacent impaling-pin, a stitch finger provided with a tapered tongue portion adapted to ride upon a plurality of the loops to be united and havling` an offset portion in close `proximity to the path of said thread nedle, a loopcr carriage mounted at the rear of the sewing mechanism including ay looper carrying arm and cam mechanism for operating the latter, and a connecting link extending between the free end of said looper carrying arm and said needle arm. Y

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in'prescnce of tivo witnesses.

WILLIAM CARPENTER WRIGHT.

Witnesses M. D. Lian, L. M. Hnmvic. 

